Ultimate Compound vs Scratch X 2.0 on Painted Plastic Trim

[White_Turbo]

Hi all,

I am wondering which product works better (or should be used) on painted plastic trim. My car's A pillar is covered by a plastic trim that has a gloss black finish. Initially, I buff the trim using a Chemical Guy white pad with Scratch X 2.0. The result was quite good. However, my OCD really kicked in and I wanted to see if Ultimate Compound would improve the finish. I followed up with M210 after Ultimate Compound.

I am extremely shocked that it actually made it worse than using Scratch X 2.0 alone. I totally understand that you need to use the right products for the right material. Is this a case using the wrong product? I didn't think it would matter since the plastic is painted, but based on the result, it seems to suggest so.

Here is a side-by side shot (It is probably needless to say that the right side looks much better and is the Scratch X 2.0 side):


I will hit it with Scratch X 2.0 again hoping I can bring the crisp back.

Thanks.

[The Guz]

Re: Ultimate Compound vs Scratch X 2.0 on Painted Plastic Trim

Take a look at this thread. There is not much difference in aggressiveness between these two products. You are more than likely going to need to follow up with a polish as these are typically on the soft side. It takes some trial an error to get the finish right on soft paint.

What was the exact process.

https://meguiarsonline.com/forums/sh...t-surprise-you!

[White_Turbo]

Re: Ultimate Compound vs Scratch X 2.0 on Painted Plastic Trim

What was the exact process.

https://meguiarsonline.com/forums/sh...t-surprise-you!

Thanks. I have come across that thread also, so I understand the aggressiveness scale between Ultimate Compound and Scratch X 2.0.

Regarding the process:

Right side - this was my first attempt. All I did there was two application of Scratch X 2.0 with the white Chemical Guy foam pad and nothing else to follow up.
Left side - this was on top of the Scratch X 2.0 (as I thought I could improve/refine it further). I did one application of Ultimate Compound and follow up with M210 (both using the white Chemical Guy foam pad).

It seems like the additional combo of Ultimate Compound/M210 reversed the work I did with Scratch X 2.0.

[The Guz]

Re: Ultimate Compound vs Scratch X 2.0 on Painted Plastic Trim

You may need less product and less passes with M210. Possibly a softer pad. I am not sure how good or bad those pads are that you are using,

[White_Turbo]

Re: Ultimate Compound vs Scratch X 2.0 on Painted Plastic Trim

Thanks. I will try that and see.

[White_Turbo]

Re: Ultimate Compound vs Scratch X 2.0 on Painted Plastic Trim

Update:

I re-did the step using Scratch X 2.0 this weekend (using the same Chemical Guy white polishing pad), and I am convinced that Scratch X 2.0 worked a whole lot better than Ultimate Polish/M210 in this instance. This may perhaps be a case of certain products work better than others on different panels (in this case, a gloss black finish on a plastic A pillar cover). This can also be because of lighting, so I don't really know.

I did two applications of Scratch X 2.0 (2 passes each application) and was able to bring the crisp reflection back again. I probably have taken more paint off than I needed in this testing, but perhaps Scratch X 2.0 is just a better product for painted plastic trims.

Left: Scratch X 2.0
Right: Ultimate Compound/M210